Thomas de Theay leaving NC State [Updated 2:45pm]

When all is said and done, DeShawn Painter’s impatience and Amile Jefferson’s last minute change of heart and ultimate spurn of NC State may end up deciding the ultimate fate of the 2012-2013 Wolfpack.

Rumors are circulating that reserve power forward, Thomas de Theay (‘TDT’), is leaving the NC State Basketball program. The timing of the rumors certainly make sense as the academic calendar is between semesters. Additionally, TDT did not see action in a hotly contested game on Friday night against UNC-Asheville.

Although de Theay has played sparingly, his big body, general athleticism and solid stroke from the perimeter could have made a valuable impact for the Wolfpack as the season progressed.

Mark Gottfried’s press conference comments just 15 minutes ago may lend some credence to this rumor as he specifically cited Jordan Vandenberg with no mention of ‘TDT’.

“We need to get some more time for Vandenberg as our third big, sort of in the role DeShawn Painter had last year.”

If the rumors are true, TDT’s void leaves Vandenberg as the only natural post player on the bench for Mark Gottfried’s Wolfpack. I guess we could see some experimenting with TJ Warren as part of the rotation on the post resulting in a small, but offensively powerful lineup.

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In the time since this original entry was posted, TDT’s departure has been publicly announced from multiple media outlets. Link here to Technician.

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12-13 Basketball

38 Responses to Thomas de Theay leaving NC State [Updated 2:45pm]

  1. EasternWakeWolf 11/26/2012 at 11:19 AM #

    TDT is a body, and at this point that’s about all . . . he has really not shown me very much.

  2. StateMan 11/26/2012 at 11:23 AM #

    Grades arent released for another 2 weeks

  3. PoppaJohn 11/26/2012 at 11:37 AM #

    I think this is a total non-factor. He has not shown to have the athleticism to be a real contributor at this level. I think we took a shot with him, but it didn’t work.

  4. ryebread 11/26/2012 at 11:46 AM #

    Honestly, this one is baffling to me. NC State has clear needs with respect to a big body, good rebounding, hustle, outside shooting. TDT has skills that seemingly match.

    Somehow things aren’t gelling and the tweets reflect it. I don’t understand it, particularly given that this staff recruited TDT.

    I don’t understand why we’ve tightened the rotation up so much early. I don’t understand why TDT didn’t get mop up duty a couple of games ago. I don’t understand why he and Jordan play some games and not others. Shrugs.

    I took some heat for it, but I knew we’d miss Painter and CJW a lot this year. Sadly, it appears that I was right. We need the willingness to hustle, put the team first and come in clutch that these guys provided.

    Also, unless things drastically turn around quickly, NC State is showing some of signs of the “red flags” with Gott’s coaching. I hope that I am wrong and I hope this thing doesn’t turn into another 2007-2008 season. I doubt it’d go that poorly (the floor is clearly higher and we have way more talent and balance), but the feel is definitely there.

  5. BlackHole91 11/26/2012 at 12:02 PM #

    He tweeted “it’s time for a change” the morning after the UNC-A game. Something we can read into that?

  6. hoop 11/26/2012 at 12:13 PM #

    ^Yeah, we are looking for a new football coach!

  7. Thinkpack17 11/26/2012 at 12:15 PM #

    You’re a 3 star SOPH on a loaded D1 squad. Everyone that is playing ahead of you is just a better player. Have we gotten so used to instant gratification that no one is willing to wait his turn? It’s not like he’s buried on the bench and doesn’t know why.

  8. Texpack 11/26/2012 at 12:17 PM #

    I thought TDT showed fairly well against Oklahoma State and would perhaps start to see more time. Maybe I’m just hoping for the next Marcus Melvin or Ilian Etimov, but I think TDT can thrive in Painter’s role eventually.

  9. EasternWakeWolf 11/26/2012 at 12:29 PM #

    ^ agreed. Game where we trailed practically the entire game and he thinks he is the difference maker? Seems to be a “jealousy” issue between returning players and the freshmen. Sorry guys . . .longevity doesn’t always score the most points and win the game.

  10. bluelena69 11/26/2012 at 12:29 PM #

    This wouldn’t surprise me. TDT seems like a hard -working, good kid. I hope this isn’t true, but I certainly couldn’t blame him. It would be tough with dreams of more PT combined with being so far away from home.

  11. Thinkpack17 11/26/2012 at 12:31 PM #

    A tweet from his GF and other sources say he is leaving to be with his sick father. He may also pursue pro options.

  12. Pack Leader 11/26/2012 at 12:32 PM #

    Never saw the flashes of greatness that othes saw in him.

    A poor mans Illian Evtomov….

  13. WTNY 11/26/2012 at 12:32 PM #

    Technician Sports: https://twitter.com/TechSports/status/273124219821387777

    “Men’s basketball sophomore forward Thomas de Thaey has left the team.”

  14. bluelena69 11/26/2012 at 12:34 PM #

    sources confirming he is gone back to Belgium to be with his sick father. Sick parents = #ncstateshit

  15. WTNY 11/26/2012 at 12:35 PM #

    Our bench is getting thin. Yikes.

  16. Tuffy2 11/26/2012 at 12:44 PM #

    Sorry I disagree with most of you. TDT only helps the team if he is getting minutes. I have a hard time understanding how a player if not part of a rotation is considered not working out. If I was to pick who I would want to stay of the two in TDT and Vandy it would be TDT hands down.

    I know Vandy is a fan favorite but TDT gives us a chance to score while he is out there on the court. He is not just out there to collect fouls like Vandy does. I honestly feel he will score when he comes into a game while I just get nervous when Vandy comes in.

    That is just the way I see it. Yes, Painter is missed more than I thought he might be this year.

  17. bill.onthebeach 11/26/2012 at 12:47 PM #

    It’s a done deal…. accordingly to old reliable wral…

    http://www.wralsportsfan.com/nc-state-s-de-thaey-leaving-the-program/11813000/

  18. Tuffy2 11/26/2012 at 12:50 PM #

    That is two days in a row that we are making breaking news and at least yesterdays was good.

  19. packbackr04 11/26/2012 at 1:34 PM #

    dont forget Tyler Harris leaving… he coulda been decent fill in at the 4 spot this yr. we are thin… yikes

  20. coach13 11/26/2012 at 2:03 PM #

    There are thousands of HS kids who can shoot lights out in a shoot around. In a game situation however, those same kids do not have the nerve or whatever you want to call it to hit the shot in a game. TDT was that kind of shooter fromwhat I saw.

    Now the big body will be missed, but look at it from his point of view. IDK what kind of down time he has to go through but can probably step right into something he contribute more to or stay here knowing we have recruited more big bodies for next year who he will be a backup to.

    Oh well.

  21. packfan1 11/26/2012 at 2:07 PM #

    I thought he was a good backup. I had wished he and Vandy would get more minutes but that’s not happening. It’s not a big surprise that he would leave considering that the new talent this year and next are going to get minutes ahead of him and some games he doesn’t play at all. Combine that with being so far from home and being older, he might as well pusue his pro career at home.

  22. ncsuallday 11/26/2012 at 2:39 PM #

    I thought he had real potential for this year. We are so thin it hurts.

  23. wolfie91 11/26/2012 at 2:39 PM #

    I think it is unfair to say that Painter was impatient.

  24. ADVENTUROO 11/26/2012 at 2:51 PM #

    To paraphrase a favorite song of mine and one that has been used about Jimmy V and Coach G. as the “character”

    Oh, we got trouble -right here in Wolfie City.
    Trouble with a capital T .
    And that rhymes with C and stands for CHEMISTRY!

    TDT is somewhat of a loss and a disappointment. He showed flashes of brilliance in shooting and rebounding this year. He was also aggressive on defense, but prone, if I recall, to fouling.

    Wood and Brown and Leslie and Howell will have to step up a bit. We still are getting good minutes from Purvis and Warren and Lewis. Need two more folks, potentially for the rotation…three would be better.

    Coach Gottfried will have to do some of the Professor Harold Hill stuff and do some attitude adjustments.

    From a leadership standpoint, we knew last year that we were going to miss Painter. He had a personal situation and we all understood.

    TDT’s comments about “change” and then the later comments about sick father….don’t know….but, out of courtesy and respect, will give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that his father recovers and that he finds his niche in Europe. Traveling with a pro team does not necessarily provide time to attend to an ailing relative….

    BUT….he is gone. Life will go on. Coach and staff need to concentrate on UM and keep experimenting with rotations.

  25. Hawkeye Whitney 11/26/2012 at 3:11 PM #

    Never a good thing for a guy to leave this time of year unless he was being disruptive to the team. I am betting that a time will come this season when we have Howell and CJL both in foul trouble and we will be crying over the fact that we have no Painter or TDT or Tyler Harris to turn to. It looks like we need to have some fast, small lineup options, and Wood, Brown and Purvis will have to play some interior defense.

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